Adding to other reviews - I saw both nights (lived right up the road at UMO). What a treat to have the boys in Augusta. They always treated Maine well, playing in other backwater places like the Lewiston Fairgrounds, Alfond Arena ( a weird little hockey rink), Oxford Plains and a bunch of killer shows at the Cumberland Civic Center.

The Augusta Civic Center is so small that the normal stage setup couldn't fit so not a lot of flown equipment. It gave everybody an intimate view of the band. There is some video of the show on youtube.

Jerry was a mountain... huge... the heaviest I ever saw him. And his hair was long and stringy. The poor man was downright unhealthy looking. But OMG did he pour it out at these shows. As I think back on these killer shows... I think Jerr Bear was sober... at least more so than usual.

Everybody rightly raves about the Dew but there are also other jewels - the Uncle John's/drums/Playing/Uncle John's is some other the best playing I've seen. Jerry and Bob were picking and grinning, digging their craft, digging the crowd. Maybe they flubbed the words a bit but that always happens. Don't miss the Jack-A-Roe & Music Never Stopped.

I miss those days

Tough to imagine a better aud. The playing is fantastic. Jerry is so on its scary.

Other reviewers talk about the emotion in Dew, and that's certainly there. But this may also be the most powerful I've ever heard Jerry. Take a listen starting at 4 minutes into the Dew. Simply awesome.

5 star aud. 5 star show. 843 stars for Jerry.

Its shows like this that make me feel bad for heads who say they don't listen to anything from the 80s. Man are they missing out. I enjoy this as much as Europe 72, May 77 and anything else you want to throw out there. Cherish every single year of the Dead.

On the whole, 1984 was far from memorable. But this show has got to be the best of the year, from the Stranger onwards.
www.gratefuldeadoftheday.com

I just relived the greatest musical experience of my teenage years. I had always wondered whether my first show was as good as it seemed at the time. And it was! No wonder I was hooked forever before the end of Sugaree. These couple of hours of music changed my life. I'm so so glad to find this

This was my seventh show. After Saratoga that year I already thought I knew what the Dead were about. I did the Worcester shows that week and had no plans to go to Maine until a buddy told me at lunch on Friday that he was going up, so I tagged along. No ticket, small venue, but in those days persistence generally paid off and I had mine well before show time. There are no words to adequately describe this night. Those that were there just know. The hook was in me for life and this remains, after more than 100 shows, my all time favorite for the combination of music, venue and scene. I just saw that they are finally releasing this one as part of their million show box set for $700. Too bad, because I've been waiting for it for years but my archive download and a first generation audience tape still serve me well.

Yet another cool aspect of this show was the song selection. I had the good fortune of catching all of fall 84 and this show was unique. It was the 6th show of the tour and the only song previously played on this tour was Feel Like A Stranger and even that was the *closer* to the 1st set in Charlotte.

Other notes: the P.A. speakers were so low to the ground in this tiny gym you could almost reach up and touch them. The Morning Dew was pin-drop quiet at points but eventually inspired the crowd to clap in unison during part of the solo. I know that sounds obnoxious but i think it worked. I swear I thought the whole place was going to life off the ground during the end of Good Lovin' and I get goosebumps typing this. Once they left the stage it was a simple rainbow of lights above the stage and I remember thinking "maybe they come out and play Dark Star" like they did in Berkeley almost three months prior. Yeah right...

This recording does this show justice

stellar 5 star show
this is one of the best shows I ever saw, rich and warm tones in an intimate setting, great crowd, fantastic set list, couldnt believe i got a CR&S and the best DEW ever, Jerry's voice was fine that night. smiles all around. i think i felt the love of this show for a solid week. nice to have the 24bit. i got a copy of this show probably two weeks after, had to pay the guy $20,and still he had to cut a few seconds off of a song or two, way to go Fully Pinette!
5 stars for recording, 5 stars for performance and 5 stars for the vibe

The combination of Jerry's remarkable vocals and the huge notes he bends in the last third of Morning Dew just after the really touching audience clapping catapults this Dew into the stratosphere of really great Dews - a song hat was simply a great pleaser in every deadcad.

I just wanted to say I don't know how anyone can come on here with a straight face and say this audience recording stinks...this is what a classic GD tape from 1984 should sound like...

I have to agree this show is practically criminal.

These two shows were the Magical nights you want to be in the audience experiencing what the Grateful Dead gave us on any given night. who knows what you will get, but all I know I was treated to the Magic and Spirit of that whole entity known as The Grateful Dead. I remember being in the parking loton the first before the show and there were these Heads from Florida who's micro bus's trans axle had broken, they were parked right next to us and I remember them asking us if we would help them roll the bus on it's side, we did then went into the show, when we came out they were still working on the bus. It was such a bummer that we gave them some kind party favors and I had four extra tickets for the next night and I MIRACLED them. The next day we all pulled together and fixed the bus, went into the show, raged, and had our minds blown with in My opinion, the Best Dead show I experienced. Long live the Spirit Of The Grateful Dead.

This Is The Greatest Single Show Of My Life!!! It was like the second night just picked up where they left off. The Cold Rain and then Sailor/Saint. I don't think ther is a better version Of Sailor /Saint anywhere. The Jam they did at the end of Playing should probably be labled Space >Drums>Space Listen to Phil just beat that bass and Brents jumps in, Crazy, Crazy jam before Drums.I have always loved this Drums/space in to Playing Reprise. High energy and crazy jammin. The Morning Dew is The most memerable single experience of my 31 shows. It was like Jerry was just screaming to God about all that was happening in the world. Coming out of the show The people were mesmerized and saying Whoa, What was that!! The Boys from Campton N.H. were definatly digging that show
John Byerly

easily one of the best audience recordings ive heard. i hadnt heard of oade mics before, only schoeps but this recording is fine fine example of what i want aud tapes to sound like.

oh and its a pretty hot show too. i gave it 4 stars only because i reserve the 5 stars for 73-74, 77 (usually).

New member and first time poster! Turned 19 that day. My friend Charlie D came up from Providence for the two nights to celebrate and enjoy the shows.

I have yet to hear a Dew that matches this in intensity. It cresendoes to two magical points that bring chills and tears to my eyes years later. What an amazing time we live in that we can re-live these moments.

Thanks to everyone for playin with the band!

There were so many mic stands in the pit i was literally behind bars, unable to move from a standing position the whole show and i swear i almost 'sploded. This gig was so hot i had a tan afterward. The subject of this post refers to a bit of advice i gave to my fried UM Professor Randal A as he spent 10 minutes doubled-over in a fit of peristaltic laughter in a nearby forest after the show, his 2'nd...laffin and vommin at the same time like when Fat Freddy went to Mexico & ate shrooms for dessert following a hearty dinner, so i figured he was having a good time.

This show, along with Red Rocks 9/6/83 and Hampton 10/9/89, were my top 3 GD shows attended (of 100 in the years 78-95)

Today is the first time I searched archive.org for the Grateful Dead, and I was surprised to see this show (and source) listed first.

I will never forget the single white spotlight on Jerry while he spilled his guts emotionally during this Dew, while the rest of the stage was fairly dark. It seemed you could see his aura clearly, and the climax of the tune caused my hair to stand on end.

I helped make this very recording in my own small way. I was travelling with my good friend Doug Oade on this portion of the tour, and I helped carry gear and also since I was the tallest taper in this group I stood behind the stand and helped protect the 'pile' of equipment as we were FOB way close to the stage and it was really intense down there.

I also had my sony D5 plugged into his rig, and still have my master tapes of charlotte - augusta on this fall 84 run.

I disagree with the reviewer ragging on the first set. Some of these were rarities when played here and the whole set had the wonderful feel of this being a 'special' show where songs normally only played acoustic in the past could be pulled out.

This show is a treasured memory in my Dead listening career and this recording is equally a treasure.

Enjoy!

mountain jim

11/20/07 update. Reading here and the other reviews, some mention lack of bass/hall ambience in this particular Oade recording. I can say that we got an FOB spot that Doug decided later was perhaps too close to the stage and somewhat inside of the stacks, so this show has a higher component of stage sound relative to system and hall sound, I believe. Since this was where I stood, it sounds just like the show I heard. But keeping the equipment and stand protected and steady down front like that in that joyous mob was not easy. I am so thankfull I made it all the up from Georgia for this run.

strongest show of the tour it would seem. gotta love that playin in the band/uncle johns/playin/a.m. dew---like those mammoth medleys of 73 featuring a similar structure. the cold rain just floors out of the gate in the second. might burn the rice master to see if it's better but this source is good. think the hall has gym acoustics, which leaves the sound a bit thin. still--the band sounds great--esp for 1984.

Audience recordings like this one are meant to be played loud!

Eventually, after you have (hopefully) led a long and full life, and after your grieving relatives cluster around your bedside in a most gratifying display of grief at your passing on,
your soul will leave your body and you will rise into the heavens towards a light more bright and beautiful than you have even seen. As you approach, a small wooden dais topped by a very large book will appear. Behind it will be standing a very impressive angel, patiently awaiting your arrival.
He will ask you a few, quick informational questions. There may be some additional queries posed of a more searching and personal nature. Eventually, he will ask if you either attended or have listened to the Grateful Dead 1984-10-12.
If you say yes, you will be promptly admitted into
Paradise with no further delay. If you say no, or merely looked baffled, there will be a prolonged, awkward silence while St. Peter regards you with pity and exasperation over the top of his glasses.
After a few seconds, he will utter a sigh, shake his head sadly, the clouds will part beneath you until you fall all the way back to Earth, where you will be forced to relive your life until you finally listen to this show.
Yeah, it's that important.

I think there is a lack of depth to the bottom end here. I can hear the bass playing, but I can't feel it anywhere (or the organ). All the other instruments are clearly represented well.

I am going to check out the other audience source(s) here to see if they have more depth to the bottom end. Maybe I just have unrealistic expectations based on the unbelievable oade recording of the night before this one.

This was a crazy show to attend, goosebumps start to finish. I just don't get that back from this recording unfortunately.

I wouldn't second guess this one. Auds that sound like this don't come along too often. Pure punch from the start

Those who say this show sounds bad are sorely mistaken! the whole band sounds great, sometimes a audience tape is better in my ears than a soundboard! Plus its an oade recording, I did a search on archive for Oade recordings, Every one of them has a great sound to it, surely didnt let me down!

No offense but you folks that gave this 1 or 2 stars don't belong reviewing here - It makes people second guess grabbing this freeking rocking show. This is a quality recording and yes you can hear the crowd - It is an AUDIENCE RECORDING (there are some issues with levels).... From the start of 15 min Stranger this show kicks total ass (never a bad show I am aware of ever played in Maine) The All over now is off the charts as is the cumberland and music. At first glance this is short but set I sizzles.

Set II is legendary and I forget why I missed these 2 shows (I made some of the others) running into friends afterwards they just gave you this 'you have no idea' look when you asked... I got the tape right away and was blown away especially by the Dew. 84 was inconsisent but man when they were on like that last night at the Greek when they encored with Dark Star they were on - This equals that show.

I remember this. While I did not attend this show, I did catch the Meadowlands and Syracuse shows at the end of the tour with friends. they were great shows as well, but in hind sight, I wish I had been able to attend the Augusta shows as well. Hinx, if you're out there somewhere, I'd love to hear from you.
Any way, I want to add to the long list of great reviews for this show. My take is mainly on the first set. Back in the mid-80s when I started trading shows, I had what I think now was a copy of either this aud or the other one that is posted of the first set only. It was easily one of my 3 favorite tapes. I think it eventually just disintegrated due to over play. The song selection is awesome IMHO. A kickin Stranger to get things started. On the Road Again, Jack-A-Roe. Both are sweet. I have always loved All Over Now, and this version smokes. Cumberland (a very underated song in my estimation) just jams, And MNS to close the set just brings the house down. I can't give enough superlatives to this rockin first set, and I haven't even listened to the 2nd set yet. Based on previous reviews, that seems as if it will be tasty as well. I can't wait. So happy that I found this posted here. It can now resume it's place in my collection as one of my all time favorites. 4.5 for recording and 5.5 for show = 5 STARS.

the setlist looks so rockin but the recording is so bad i couldnt even listen to it....unless you attended this show....sadly dont bother

Ok, the show is great for sure, but the soundboard actually makes you want to listen to it because this version is thin from way back in the audience and you can't hardly hear most of the vocals and Jerry's guitar.

Morning Dew is a monster, Jerry is pouring his heart and soul into it like I have never heard before!

I prefer this gig to the night before's. Top notch. Both sets are filled with tunes that slowly disappeared in later years. A true gem. The 2 hartford shows that follow have the same vibe.

For all those who were in attendance both nights, there is no recording anywhere that can put you inside that tiny little place. After listening to a couple of tracks from this night, chills were running rampant. I felt like I was transported back in time, if just for a moment. Start to finish, the boys came to play.

Thanks for the upload, and the opportunity to relive these very special nights in Maine.
Shout out to all my homeys from UMass, Class of '87, who made the trip!!

Hands down, the best show I ever heard/saw. The crowd was great and the music definitely played the band. This is both sets though as I remember the show starting with Feel Like a Stranger. Second set started with Cold Rain and Snow...So you'll have to split it yourself!

certainly in the top ten shows I have ever heard. the am dew is THE finest ever IMO. I'll take this dew over 5-8-77 anyday, and I know that is a bold statement.

enjoy, and bring the tissues.

I'm an 80's head who saw the boys exactly 100 times between 82 and 89 and this is easily the one I'd pick to experience again.Ditto's on all those have said previously about the show, I'd only add that after the '76 theatre shows this was possibly the smallest venue they ever played in N.E. and we all camped out in the woods surrounding the Civic Center with no hassles from the local cops, who merely turned off the lot lights and went home for the evening.Augusta was also the site of my all-time funiest Dead memory.All those who slept in the woods to the left of the Civic were treated the first night to an obviously over amped fan who was walkin' around in his underwear shouting "I AM GARCIA,.. DONNA &*$%# ME!!" Hope he made it allright to this night.

Great reviews, great show, great sound... its all here!

All you have to know is that this Dew is probably one of the finest examples of Jerry "beltin' it out" vocally. I have had a similar sounding AUD tape for about sixteen years that I still listen to, and I still get chills hearing Jerry's vocal outpouring in this Morning Dew. When everybody who writes a review here keeps saying the same thing, you know it must be true.

Listen to Morning Dew right now! It'll bring a tear to your eye.

Just listen to the risks Jerry takes in the Morning Dew solo. It's unlike anything he'd done before (or since). What an amazing tour. Hard to believe how Jerry could play so well looking so bad at that time...

quite possibly the strongest second set of the era, the jams in and out of space are exquisite and the the morning dew is in the top three 6.18.83, 4.6.82, etc.. i had the tape for many years, thanks to scott greenberg and noe the anxiously awaiting the dowload for the first set, enjoy

I Agree with EVERYTHING "Mountain_Jim" and "Davesnotthere" have stated. Everyone knew this show was special right there in the middle of the 1st set. What a great place and great crowd. 2nd set put the exclamation on it all. This IS what it's all about - pure raw energy like nowhere in the universe. One of my top 5 shows of all time (Out of hundreds). Seems most of the show is so well and accuratley captured by the other reviewers that I can't add much. Never forget the total joy that broke for the Good Lovin encore. It was like the crowd "Popped like a cork" with joy. I always thought this was the best version I ever heard - when I listened to this I realised I was right and it was even better than I remember. I never heard Jerry sing so pyched! Spiritual Realease! Get this show!

Always loved the tape of the second set which I had in the 80s and 90s. To me it seems like a near perfect, well rounded set. It all flows together incredibly well, with the peaks really nailed. Listening to the whole show for the first time I'm really struck by the difference between the first and second set. First isn't very interesting, the second is full of energy, creativity and surprises. Still love it, and the jam out of UJB into drums is primo GD.

First set OK. Honestly, we were talking about Jerry looking as if he was going to fall over, and pretty much gave him a year the way he looked. But as he came out of his haze in the second set he pulled out some great leads and a killer Dew.

Can you say 'ON'?

Roses...On the Road Again...All Over Now...Cold Rain, Brent's perfect vocals on UJB, that haunting post-UJB jam that makes my eyes dilate without the need for any additional substances... Dew...

And to hear it like you're right there in that venue, is a blessing from the Brothers Oade...perfection in live recording...

Definitive Grateful Dead...
:) :) :)

Every so often, when you can't go to all the shows on any tour, you pick one of several, and voila. I'd say this was the best show I ever saw out of 100 or so. Once they broke into On the Road Again, I knew it would be a good one. Little did I know that would be the last time they'd do it. Then came Jack a Roe, my first, and hmmm, Roses,On,Jack A Roe, that was three in a row off Reckoning. Interesting. Then It's All Over Now, which I always thought ok. But to close with Cumberland and Music Never Stopped...now that 7 song set was better then some 11 song sets (see next night 10/14 for instance) Second set begins with a nice Cold Rain, followed by always welcome Lost/St., then Brent's Don't Need Love, a very personal song for Brent, but....what a bummer. Talk about a mood killer (sorry Brent, RIP) and quickly saved by Uncle John's and a rousing sing-along for this 7,000 or so grateful Heads. After an energetic drums and thoughtful space came, what I've come to find out per Dead base, is what they refer to as first Playin reprise, which in this case refers to finishing the song by playing the reprise this night, after having played up to that point the night before. The crowd caught this, and was stoked, but now in fitting fashion they tidily finished Uncle Johns from pre-drums, all nicely segued. This crowd is all cheshire grins, in unison singing come hear uncle john's band.....pure delight running rampant as it winds down, and then, whoa.....Dew. As much contrast between these two songs, the emotional intensity did not subside, but got more intense with a very poignant delivery by Jerry. When he sang the final guess it doesn't matter anyway this crowd erupted into thunderous applause, as with one mind we realized we'd just witnessed one for the record books. I was immediately reminded of this sequence from shows circa '74 where this combinaiton was done. Good Lovin' as an encore was certainly appropeau, and we proceded to boogie. Unless say Pigpen had walked out onstage to sing this one, I think my brothers and sisters in attendance couldn't have been more elated. I guess for all the miles I traveled to see shows, and never witnessed a Dark Star, this was a big chunk of my payoff. Thanks to all who were there that helped make this such a good time. Thanks for allowing me to elaborate on this, because this is what it was all about, boys and girls. Didn't listen to this copy yet, my five stars are for a five star show.

the futher the band got away from the bay.. the better the gigs were... IMO the 2nd set was one of best of the 80's..